The muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh are collectively known as the hip adductors.
There are five muscles in this group; gracilis, obturator externus, adductor brevis, adductor longus and adductor magnus.
All the medial thigh muscles are innervated by the obturator nerve, which arises from the lumbar plexus. Arterial supply is through the obturator artery.
In this article, we shall examine the anatomy of the muscles of the medial thigh – their attachments, actions and clinical correlations.
Fig 2 – Gracilis muscle of the medial thigh
By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2023)
Fig 3 – Cross section of the inferior thigh, showing some of the medial thigh muscles. The adductor brevis and obturator externus attach superiorly in the thigh, and so are not visible in this cross-section.
Clinical Relevance: Injury to the Adductor Muscles
Strain of the adductor muscles is the underlying cause of what is colloquially known as a ‘groin strain‘. The proximal part of the muscle is most commonly affected, tearing near their bony attachments in the pelvis.
Groin injuries usually occur in sports that require explosive movements or extreme stretching. Treatment of any muscle strain should utilise the RICE protocol – rest, ice, compression and elevation.